Apple has developed a new technology designed to protect fragile smartphone screens from shattering, and has been awarded a related patent. The technology automatically calculates an estimated point of impact with the ground and vibrates right at the moment a phone starts to fall. The vibration moves the phone's center of gravity meaning it rotates accordingly in order to avoid its sensitive parts such as the front screen from hitting the ground. Instead, the more durable parts of the smartphone like the sides or the back will be in contact with the ground first.

An internal sensor detects the movement and location of the phone, calculates the distance, angle, and speed of the fall and sends a falling signal, which in turn activates the protective mechanism.

Obviously the new techniology could be used in Apple's future devices.
The recent iPhone 6 and 6 Plus incorporate linear oscillating motors but they do not use an eccentrically connected rotational mass that could rotate the device.